Brighton and Brentford registered wins last night against Crystal Palace and Southampton respectively.
Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 Crystal Palace
Albion has done excellent business in the sub-top of the Premier League. Crystal Palace was defeated at home. Thanks to top scorer Ivan Toney, Brentford also had a great evening by winning at Southampton.
With Joël Veltman kicking off and Jan Paul van Hecke on the reserve bench, The Seagulls started the make-up game. With three games in hand, Brighton still had a packed program, partly because it is still active in the FA Cup tournament. Based on points lost, manager Roberto de Zerbi’s team was even the virtual number four in the ranking prior to kick-off.
In the battle for European tickets, and perhaps even a ticket to the Champions League, nothing could be left behind against Palace on their own field. And the guests seemed like a welcome guest. The team of manager Patrick Vieira has not won since December 31. The Eagles have been waiting for a win for eleven games.
Initially, this was not visible in the game image. Palace dominated the first fifteen minutes and, led by star player Wilfried Zaha, had three opportunities. Goalkeeper Jason Steele, however, kept his goal clean. On the other hand, it was right on target. Solly March, for the first time in the pre-selection of the national team of England. The man in form broke through on the left and finished nicely. It immediately provided more grip at Brighton, where Veltman fought several tough duels with Zaha. Whoever did that was Cheick Doucouré. The midfielder picked up his ninth yellow card and miraculously escaped a second shot just before half-time.
Second half
In the second half, Brighton thundered through, but opportunities from Pervis Estupiñán and Danny Welbeck were not taken. The Argentinian world champion Alexis Mac Allister and star Moisés Caicedo were also unable to express the difference in strength in the score. The guests had an excellent chance in injury time, but missed, so that De Zerbi’s team steams up to seventh place in the ranking. With the twelfth Premier League win of the season, a record was equaled as icing on the cake.
Southampton 0-2 Brentford
Southampton took another good point at a visit to Manchester United last weekend. The gatekeeper had an excellent opportunity at home against Brentford to get rid of last place. That did not work, as the Londoners were victorious at St. Mary’s Stadium. Who else but Ivan Toney was the goldcrest. The striker already made sixteenth goal of the season. Deep in injury time, substitute Yoane Wisse even doubled the score on Toney’s request. Brentford climbed to eighth place in the rankings with the win. Just below Liverpool, but four points above Chelsea.
